Wire retaining device



Dec. 9, 1952 LARClNESE 2,620,995

WIRE RETAINING DEVICE Filed June 8, 1948 I NV ENT 0 R Adar/us LarcmesePatented J, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE RETAINING DEVICEMarius Larcinese, Glassport, Pa. Application June 8, 1948, Serial No.31,630

Claims.

This invention relates to a device for use in connection with wiredrawing apparatus, and its object is to produce a relatively lightweight, simple structure which is particularly adapted to cooperate withthe block of a high speed wire drawing machine in holding the strands orcoils of wire in place thereonduring wire drawing operations.

A further object is to produce a coil-engaging device which is adaptedfor use on the block of a wire drawing apparatus, and which functions asa safety device in holding the separate strands of wire in place on theblock during wire drawing operations.

A further object is to produce a device of the character described, inthe form of an integral structure which is adapted to cooperate with therapidly rotating block of wire drawing apparatus during wire drawingoperations; to engage the strands of wire wound onto the block duringsuch operations; to ride upwardly with the coils or strands of wire asthey move upwardly along the block extension pins as the bundle of wireon the blocks increases in size; and which overlaps a plurality of suchstrands under conditions such as to prevent the strands spreading duringwire drawing operations incase the forward end of the wire being drawnis disengaged from the block during such operations.

These and other obiects which will be made more apparent throughout thefurther description of my invention, are obtained by means of a devicesuch as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coil-engagingdevice embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a fragmental side elevationof a portion of a e drawing apparatus and illustrates an emh 3311i] ofmy invention in place on the wire draw clock forming a part of suchapparatus. Fig I 5 is a side elevation of the wire drawing bioo iown inFigure 2 and illustrates the block the extension pins thereof partiallyfilled wire coils and shows an embodiment of i y vention in position onthe uppermost of such coils. Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure3 and shows the position oi the device of my invention as the wiredrawing operation is being completed.

Referring to the drawings: theblock is of usual form and includes v asubstantially horizontal flange t which is formed integrally with atapered upright portion '4, and is provided with four block extensionpins 8. The wire drawings die 9 is more or less diagrammatically, shownas mounted in a die support H) which is adjustably and pivotally securedto a die holder H. A spool 12 is illustrated as associated with the wiredrawing apparatus and as forming a support for a coil of wire I3 to bedrawn.

As a preliminary to a wire drawing operation, the wire I3 is passedthrough the wire drawing aperture formed in the die 9, and after beingcoiled around the portion 1 of the block the forward end thereof issecured to the block by a vice or any other suitable mechanism. Duringthe wire drawing operation the block is rotated so as to wind the wirel3 thereon as it issues from the die 9. In Figure 2 the block as shownhas several loops or strands of wire extending around the part 1 thereofand the arrows associated with Figure 2 indicate the direction ofmovement of the wire 13 as it is pulled through the die 9 and wound ontothe block I. The block is of usual form and as illustrated is providedwith four extension pins 8 which are equally spaced with relation to theperiphery of the block but are set inwardly of the block with relationto the face of the tapered portion 1 thereof.

Where a wire drawing block forms a part of the wire drawing apparatus itis usual to employ a weighted disk for holding the wire in place on theblock. Such disks are heavy, are annular in form, encircle the extensionpins of the block and engage the uppermost strands of the bundle of wireon the block, riding upwardly along the extension pins of the block asthe wire coiled onto the block builds up around such pins. It will beunderstood by those familiar with wire drawing operations, that suchweighted disks must be moved frequently by the operators during wiredrawing operations; that they rotate with the blocks and, therefore, area source of danger, particularly where high speed blocks are involved,since if dislodged during the rotation of the blocksthey may be thrownfor some distance. The device of my invention takes the place of theseweighted disks and is so formed and constructed that it overcomesdifficulties encountered where such disks are employed, and it alsoobviates the possibility of injury in case a wire drawing block is overfilled or other conditions are encountered such as would result indislodging such a weighted disk during the rotation of the associatedwire drawing block. f 1

In Figure 2 a wire coil-engaging device embodying my invention, is shownin place on the block and is designated by the reference char.-

acter It in all the figures of the drawings.

As clearly shown in Figure l, the device of my 3 invention consists ofan annular portion or member I5 to which coil-confining or coil-engagingmeans I6 are secured. In the illustrated embodiment, the coil-engagingmeans are shown as fingers which are secured to and equally spacedaround the member I5. All the fingers Iii project laterally from oneside of the member I5 and each extends at a divergent angle to the axisof the circle surrounded by the member I5 and is curved so that theouter end thereof is closer to such axis than the intermediate portionof the finger.

In the illustrated embodiment, the member I5 and the coil-engaging meansI6 are shown as part of a unitary structure. This structure may beformed of a single piece of relatively heavy wire which is looped andtwisted to form the fingers I6 and which is extended between such loopsor fingers so as to form the annular member I5. It will, of course, beunderstood that the member I5 and the fingers I5 may be separatelyformed and then secured together in any suitable manner, such forexample as by welding. The member I5 and the fingers carried therebymust, however, provide a, light, but at the same time a rigid andrelatively rugged structure, i. e., 'a structure which will hold itsshape under conditions of rough usage such as are likely to beencountered in a wire drawing shop.

In Figure 2 the member I5 is shown as seated on the upper face of theblock and as surrounding the extension pins 8. In this position thefingers I 6 project downwardly and overlap the tapered portion 1 of theblock and consequently the strands of wire which encircle that portionof the block. During the wire drawing operation the strands of wireformed at the base of the block are forced upwardly by the on-comingwire. As a result, the strands encircling the portion I of the block arefirst crowded together and eventually the uppermost of such strands aremoved upwardly off of the tapered portion 7 and surround the pins 8. Asthe strands of wire are crowded together on the portion 1 of the blockthey move upwardly under the depending fingers I6 of the coil-engagingdevice I4. As the I uppermost strands move off of the portion I of theblock they lift the device I4 with the result that the circular member I5 thereof seats on the uppermost strand or strands of the bundle and thedevice moves upwardly along the pins 8 as the wire drawing operationcontinues and the bundle of wire on the block increases in size. Duringsuch movement the device I4 is held in place by the cooperation betweenthe member I 5 and the pins 8, and the depending fingers I5 overlap asubstantial portion of the bundle below the uppermost strands.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the device I4, while riding onthe uppermost strands of the bundle of wire performs a double func tionin that it holds the uppermost strands in place on the bundle as thebundle increases size during the drawing operation, and it preventsspread of the strands in case the forward end of the wire becomesdisengaged from the block. It also tends to remain in place on thebundle if, by accident or intent, the block is overfilled during a wiredrawing operation, and even to the extent that the top strands of thebundle move to a position adjacent the upper ends of the pins 8 or evenrise slightly above the upper ends of such pins. The depending fingersI5 contribute to these results by engaging a substantial portion of thecoil or bundle of wire on the block. This is clearly disclosed inFigures 3 and 4 of the drawings. In both figures the fingers engage asubstantial number of strands near the top of the coil or bundle,consequently the cooperation between such strands and the fingers tendsto hold the device I4 in place on the bundle under the varyingconditions (occasioned by accident or otherwise) which may arise duringwire drawing operations.

It will be apparent to those familiar with wire drawing operations thatthe devices I4 perform the function of the weighted disks sometimesemployed in association with the wire drawing blocks during wire drawingoperations. It will also be apparent that the structural features of thedevice I4, including its relatively light construction overcomedifficulties and dangers encountered where weighted disks are employed.During wire drawing operations it is necessary to handle the wireholding disks frequently. For this reason the weight thereof isobjectionable. Then too, a condition may arise such that a weighted diskis thrown from a rapidly rotating block, thus increasing the hazardsaccompanying wire drawing operations. On the other hand, wire-engagingdevices embodying my invention are relatively light in weight and, asnoted above, their structural details are such as to prevent them frombeing accidentally dislodged from the wire drawing blocks, with whichthey are associated, during wire drawing operations.

Those familiar with high speed wire drawing operations will realize thenecessity of preventing strand spread and also preventing a length ofwire from freeing itself from the bundle during the high speed rotationof the block. If for any reason the wire of the bundle is capable ofresponding to the centrifugal force occasion by the high speed rotationof the block, strand spread will result. Unless the block is surroundedby guards the whipping action of the rapidly moving wire thus disengagedfrom the block or the extension pins thereof, may cause damage toapparatus or injury to operators or attendants. Weighted disks andsimilar devices, heretofore employed with high speed blocks, do notprevent strand spread or the resultant freeing of a length of wire fromthe bundle in case the forward end of the wire being drawn becomesdisengaged from the block. My invention, however, does prevent strandspread under circumstances usually encountered which result in such acondition. The depending portion of the device I4 which overlaps theupper portion of the bundle of wire on the block, confines theoverlapped strands and thus prevents those strands from responding tocentrifugal force if for any reason there is a tendency toward such aresponse. If, for example, the block is over-filled during a wiredrawing operation or the forward end of the wire is disengaged from theblock, the depending portion of the device I4 will prevent strand spreadand, at least, give the operator time to shut down the wire drawingapparatus and thus prevent damage to the wire being drawn, to apparatusand even injury to individuals. Thus it is apparent that devicesembodying my invention contribute to the safety of wire drawingoperations.

While the illustrated embodiment of my invention is shown as if formedfrom relatively heavy wire it will, of course, be apparent that rod-likematerial or other material may be employed in forming the devices of myinvention so long as each such device consists of a substantiallyannular portion for engaging the uppermost strands of a bundle of wirecoiled on a wire drawing block, and is so formed that it also overlaps asubstantial portion of the bundle under conditions such as to preventthe device being dislodged from the block in case the block isoverfilled during wire drawing operations.

What I claim is:

l. A wire retaining device for use with the block of a high speed wiredrawing apparatus, comprising a unitary structure formed from rod-likematerial into a substantially annular portion interrupted at spacedpoints around its periphery by twisted loops projecting therefrom.

2. In combination with the block of a high speed wire drawing apparatusand the series of vertically extending pins carried thereby; a wire coilretaining device consisting of a substantially annular member movablysupported on the upper surface of said block, loosely encircling saidseries of pins and havin coil confining fingers formed integrallytherewith, located in spaced relationship circumferentially thereof andextending downwardly at a divergent angle to the direction of said pins,with each such finger curved so that the free end thereof is closer tothe vertical axis of said block than the intermediate portion of suchfinger.

3. In combination in a wire-drawing appa ratus, a wire-drawing blockhaving coil-supporting extension pins projecting at right angles fromthe horizontal face thereof and an annular, coil-retaining deviceloosely mounted on said block and loosely surrounding said pins, saiddevice being formed of rod-like material and having depending,coil-engaging fingers secured thereto and spaced circumferentiallythereof and extending from one side thereof.

4. A wire-coil-retaining device for use with the wire-drawing block of ahigh speed wire drawing apparatus, said device comprising an annular,coil-engaging member having coil-confining fingers secured thereto,spaced circumferentially thereof, projecting laterally from one sidethereof with each such finger extending at a divergent angle to the axisof the circle confined by said member and curved so that its free end iscloser to such axis than the intermediate portion thereof.

5. A high speed wire-drawing apparatus including a rotatablewire-drawing block having a series of coil-supporting extension pinsarranged circumferentially of the block and projecting at right anglesabove the horizontal surface thereof, in combination with acoil-retaining device loosely mounted on said block and looselysurrounding said pins and comprising an annular coil-engaging memberformed of rodlike material and having depending, coil-confining fingerssecured thereto and spaced circumferentially therearound, with each suchfinger projecting laterally from one side of said member extending at adivergent angle to the axis of said block and so formed that its freeend is closer to such axis than the intermediate portion thereof.

MARIUS LARCINESE;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,102,610 Blashill Dec. 21, 19372,349,873 Lisy May 30, 1944 2,357,065 Zaica Aug. 29, 1944 2,390,157Kramer Dec. 4, 1945

